Despite the great optimism that peace can be established in Libya, especially with the formation of the new presidential council, the new government and the preparation for the elections scheduled for the end of this year; this optimism clashes with the file of the militias, which still control large areas in the capital, Tripoli and its environs.
It is noteworthy that the last few hours witnessed an armed clash between militias affiliated with Fathi Bashagha, the Minister of Interior in the Government of National Accord, and other forces loyal to the Presidential Council in the Janzour region,
Local sources confirmed that the clash was followed by security chaos and tension in the capital, Tripoli, especially since the militias coming from the city of Zawiya, tried to storm the capital.
“All the agreements concluded and the steps taken were limited to the political side, and did not affect the issue of fugitive weapons and the proliferation of militias, which represent the main node in the Libyan crisis, which means that these agreements are still fragile and vulnerable to vibration during the coming period,” this is what Khaled Al-Zawiti the political analyst said.
Al-Zawiti also pointed out that the presence of some personalities and officials with political ambitions may hinder the concluded agreements if their ambitions damaged.
In the same context, Al-Zwaiti stresses that all the events that Libya witnessed over the past period emphasized that changing the Government of National Accord was a necessity for Libya’s security and a pivotal step on the path to establishing a unified Libyan state.
Al-Zawiti indicated that the proliferation of militia weapons in this way evidence of the failure of the Government of National Accord in the tasks for which it came, which affected the unity of Libya as a state and institutions.
Turkish army and foreign militias
Al-Zwaiti explained that the militia crisis and armed tension are exacerbated when talking about the spread of Turkish military units and foreign militias in several parts of the country.
He also indicated that the Turkish side will not simply withdraw from Libya, and will maintain a state of support for the currents affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood, which represents Turkish interests in Libya and in the Arab region in general.
Al-Zwaiti also reads in the Turkish statements indications that the Ankara government is sticking to the survival of its forces and the militias it supports, and that it does not intend to withdraw them, which gives negative connotations to the Turkish position.
He stressed the need to exert international pressure on the Justice and Development Government and take a serious stance against foreign military deployment from Libya, given that this would represent strong support for the new government and the tasks that await it until the end of the year.
It is noteworthy, that Recep Tayyip Erdogan the Turkish President stated earlier this month that Turkey would consider withdrawing its forces from Libya if the other foreign forces withdrew first, considering that the presence of Turkish forces in Libya is to train armed forces loyal to the Government of National Accord.
International bodies and human rights organizations have accused the Turkish government of recruiting more than 18,000 Syrians into militias that participated in the Libyan battles alongside the Government of National Accord forces.
For his part, Muhammad al-Mawlawi the strategic expert, points out that the agreements concluded in Libya are inconsistent with Turkey’s interests in Libya, especially as it led to the fall of the reconciliation government, which was supported by Ankara and brought with a Libyan leadership closer to the Arab depth.
“The fall of the reconciliation government and the withdrawal of the Turkish army from Libya will greatly affect not only its influence in Libya, but in North Africa as a whole, and specifically in Tunisia, which is witnessing an increasing movement against the Ennahda movement, which is considered part of the pro-Ankara movement in the region,” this is what al-Mawlawi clarified.
Despite the importance of Libya to the Turkish government, Al-Mawlawi believes that Ankara will eventually have to respond to developments in the Libyan arena and exit from it, especially with the arrival of the new American administration that is more strict in the Turkish file than its predecessor, in addition to Turkey’s need to correct Its relations with the European side again, especially with the deepening of the Turkish economic crisis.
Al-Mawlawi also considered that the exit of Turkey and the foreign militias supported by it will be the biggest step towards consolidating peace and stability in Libya.
Ali Al-Takbali, a member of the Libyan parliament, expresses limited optimism about the ability of the new government and the Presidency Council to perform their duties, in light of the survival of armed militias controlling the political, security and military institutions.
Al-Takbali also pointed out that the continued power of the militias will not allow the establishment of the Libyan state and the consolidation of the rule of law under the umbrella of any government, whatever its orientation.
“The solution to Libya’s problem is mainly to dismantle these outlaw groups, disarm them and expel mercenaries and foreigners from Libyan soil, not to replace a government with a government,” this is what Al-Takbali added.
